Vehicle with controlled hood movement

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a movable hood and a system and method for selectively moving the hood.

Some vehicles include actuators that, in an impact event, pop-up a vehicle hood to provide a gap between the vehicle hood and underlying engine components. The gap enables the hood to flex when a person impacts the hood and the flexing of the hood can reduce the severity of the impact and injury to the person. The systems used to actuate the hood pop-up actuator cause actuation even in impact events that do not involve a person. The unnecessary actuation requires the hood to be reset and this often involves repairs to the hood and or the pop-up actuator which can be time consuming and costly.

In at least some implementations, a vehicle includes a body having a front end, a front compartment and a hood received over at least part of the front compartment. A hood moving assembly is coupled to the hood to move the hood away from the front compartment and from a closed position. A thermal camera is carried by the body and has a field of view that includes an area in front of the front end. And a controller is coupled to the thermal camera and to the hood moving assembly. The thermal camera provides an output to the controller from which a determination can be made of the presence of an animate object in the field of view, and wherein the controller is responsive to the output of the thermal camera to selectively actuate the hood moving assembly to move the vehicle hood.

In at least some implementations, the thermal camera utilizes infrared light. In at least some implementations, the output of the thermal camera also provides an indication of the size of an object in the field of view.

In at least some implementations, a second camera is coupled to the controller and provides an output to the controller that is indicative of the size of an object in a field of view of the second camera. In at least some implementations, the second camera utilizes visible light. In at least some implementations, the thermal camera utilizes infrared light and the size of an object in front of front end is indicated by the output of one or both of the thermal camera and the second camera, and whether the object is animate is indicated by the output of the thermal camera, and wherein the controller is arranged to actuate the hood moving assembly when the size of an object is greater than a threshold and when the object is determined to be animate.

In at least some implementations, the thermal camera utilizes infrared light and the size of an object in front of front end is indicated by the output of the thermal camera, and whether the object is animate is indicated by the output of the thermal camera, and wherein the controller is responsive to the output of the thermal camera to actuate the hood moving assembly when the size of an object is greater than a threshold and when the object is determined to be animate.

In at least some implementations, an impact sensor is arranged at the front end and that provides an output when the vehicle collides with an object, wherein the impact sensor is coupled to the controller and the controller is responsive to actuate the hood moving assembly as a function of both the output of the impact sensor and the output of the thermal camera.

In at least some implementations, a speed sensor provides an output indicative of the vehicle speed, wherein the speed sensor is coupled to the controller and the controller is responsive to actuate the hood moving assembly as a function of both the output of the speed sensor and the output of the thermal camera.

In at least some implementations, a method of controlling a hood moving assembly for a vehicle hood, includes determining if a size of an object in front of a vehicle is greater than a threshold, determining if the object is animate, and actuating the hood moving assembly to move the hood from a closed position when the size of the object is greater than a threshold and when the object is determined to be animate.

In at least some implementations, the step of determining if the object is animate is accomplished with a thermal camera. In at least some implementations, the thermal camera utilizes infrared light.

In at least some implementations, the step of determining if the object is animate is accomplished as a function of a determined temperature of the object. In at least some implementations, the temperature of the object is determined with a thermal camera. In at least some implementations, the step of determining if the object is animate is accomplished as a function of a determined shape of the object.

In at least some implementations, the method includes determining if the vehicle has impacted an object and wherein the step of actuating the hood moving assembly also includes determining that the vehicle has impacted an object before actuating the hood moving assembly. In at least some implementations, wherein the step of determining if the vehicle has impacted an object is done with sensors used to deploy an airbag of the vehicle.

In at least some implementations, the method includes determining an imminent impact with an object in front of the vehicle and wherein the step of actuating the hood moving assembly also includes determining that vehicle impact with an object is imminent before actuating the hood moving assembly. In at least some implementations, wherein the step of determining an imminent impact with an object is determined as a function of the speed of the vehicle and the distance to the object.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the summary and detailed description, including the disclosed embodiments and drawings, are merely exemplary in nature intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application or use. Thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

Referring in more detail to the drawings,illustrates a vehiclewith a bodyhaving a hoodoverlying at least part of a compartmentnear the front endof the vehicleand in which powertrain components may be received. A hood moving assemblyis located in or adjacent to the front compartmentand is coupled to the hoodto displace the hoodaway from a closed position, as shown in, to a deployed position, as shown in, when the vehicle impacts a pedestrian. To manage the actuation of the hood moving assembly, among other things, the vehicle includes a control systemthat includes a controllerand a thermal cameracoupled to the controller. The vehiclemay also include, and the controllermay be communicated with, one or more of a second camera, an impact sensorand a vehicle speed sensor, among other things.

The hood moving assemblymay include an actuator() having a portion that moves to displace the hoodfrom a closed position to a partially open, deployed position. The actuatormay be any desired type such as, by way of a non-limiting example, a gas cylinder or gas generator, such as a micro gas generator with a rod driven relative to the cylinder to displace the hoodfrom the closed position by a desired amount. For example, the cylinder may be coupled to a structural component of the vehicle body and the rod may be coupled to the hoodor a hinge or bracket for the hood. Displacement of the rod may be initiated by the controller.

In order to perform the prescribed functions and desired processing, as well as the computations therefore (e.g., the identification of a pedestrian impact, control algorithm(s), and the like), controllermay include, but not be limited to, a processor(s), computer(s), DSP(s), memory, storage, register(s), timing, interrupt(s), communication interface(s), and input/output signal interfaces, and the like, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. For example, controllermay include input signal processing and filtering to enable accurate sampling and conversion or acquisitions of such signals from sensors and communications interfaces.

As used herein the terms control systemor controllermay refer to one or more processing circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

The thermal camerais mounted on the vehicleand has a field of view that includes an area() in front of the vehicle that is in the path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is driving in a forward direction. The thermal cameramay provide an output to the controllerthat is indicative of the temperature or relative temperature of objects within the field of view of the camera. The thermal cameramay include a sensor, sometimes called an imaging sensor, that is responsive to infrared radiated heat and may include components that convert the infrared radiations to an output that may be perceived and/or analyzed by a controller. Some thermal cameras provide a visual display, a video, image or thermograph, in which different colors represent different temperatures or ranges of temperatures. From the output of the thermal camera, the temperature or relative temperature of an object in the field of view of the thermal cameracan be determined.

In the examples shown in, the thermal camera output includes or may be converted to an image that shows objects as a function of their infrared radiation. From this camera output, the temperature or relative temperature of things like the road, trees or bushes, a person(), a dog() and a bicycle() can be determined. Further, the relative size, motion and location of the objects may be determined by analysis of the camera output.

In at least some implementations, the controlleris arranged to determine if a personis present within the field of view of the thermal camera, or within the portion of the vehicle path of travel that is within the field of view of the thermal camera. This determination may be made as a function of one or more of the size, shape, temperature and movement of an object, which may individually or collectively be defined by criteria or thresholds to enable the system to determine when a personis present in the field of view.

Further, the system may determine if an object over a certain size threshold is present in the path of travel. Smaller objects, including people, whose head or body portions are unlikely to hit the hoodof the vehicle during an impact with the vehicle, might not cause the hood moving assemblyto be actuated, in some implementations. The size determination may also reduce the false actuations of the hood moving assemblyin impacts with smaller animals, for example,

As shown in, the vehiclemay also include a second camera. The second cameramay include a sensor that is responsive and sensitive to visible light, and the second cameramay provide an output like an image or video (e.g. images at some framerate) to the controller. The controllermay be arranged to determine if a person is present within the field of view of the second camera, which may be done by determining the size, shape and/or movement or patterns of movement of objects within the field of view of the second camera.

The vehiclemay also include an impact sensorthat is communicated with the control systemand provide an output that indicates that the vehiclehas impacted an object. The impact sensormay be part of a safety system, such as may be used to deploy vehicle air bags or seat belt pretensioners, for example. Any suitable sensor or sensors may be used as an impact sensor, such as pressure/force and accelerations sensors. The impact sensormay be carried by the vehicle, at the front endof the vehicle, such as at or near a front bumper() or front fascia component, and provides an indication of an impact of the front of the vehicle with an object.

In some implementations, the output from the second cameramay be used to determine if an impact has occurred or is imminent, as will be discussed in more detail below. Such analysis of camera data may be used in other systems, like automatic emergency braking systems that engage vehicle brakes to slow a vehicle when impact with an object is determined to be imminent without such braking. In this way, the second cameramay be deemed to be an impact sensor. Such cameras may be used in various levels of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as levelor higher systems.

The vehiclemay further include a speed sensorthat is communicated with the control systemand provides an output indicative of the speed at which the vehicleis moving. From the output of one or both cameras,, the distance of an object from the vehiclecan be determined, and in combination with the vehicle speed, a time for the vehicle to be at the location of the object can be determined. Further, in at least some implementations, a time or distance for the vehicleto come to a stop or reduce speed below a threshold may be determined or programmed into the control system (e.g. in a lookup table, data map or the like). From the distance and speed information, the control systemcan determine when an impact is imminent. Further, the control systemcan determine when the speed of the vehicle at the time of the impact will be greater than a threshold (e.g. 3 mph), where speeds lower than the threshold might not require or benefit from deployment of the hood moving assembly, in at least some implementations.

A methodof controlling a hood moving assemblyis shown in. The method includes a stepof determining if a personis present in front of/in the path of travel of the vehicle. This determination may be made by analysis of the output of the thermal cameraand/or a second cameraif provided, as noted above. If a personis determined to not be present in front of/in the path of travel of the vehicle(e.g. as shown in), then the methodmay return to the start to be ready for a different/future object analysis. If a personis determined to be present in front of/in the path of travel of the vehicle(e.g. as shown in), then the methodcontinues to step.

In step, it is determined if the vehiclehas made impact with the person. This determination may be made by analysis of the output of the one or more impact sensorsand/or the output from the first and/or second camera,. If impact with a personis determined to have occurred, then the methodcontinues to stepin which the hood moving assemblyis actuated. If impact is not detected, then the methodmay return to stepto check for presence of a personin front of the vehicle.

In the methodof, rather than wait for positive indication of an impact event, a determination is made that an impact with a personis imminent so that the hood moving assemblycan be actuated sooner. The determination that an impact is imminent may be made as a function of the vehicle speed, distance to a person, the vehicle braking capacity (e.g. can the vehicle stop before the impact, or sufficiently reduce speed to a nominal impact not requiring actuation of the hood moving assembly) and the vehicle steering capacity (e.g. can the vehicle be turned to avoid impact), and perhaps assumed ability of the person to move away from the vehicle's path of travel.

With regard to the method of, in step, the distance to a person(e.g. an object in the camera field of view that is determined to be a person, such as is shown in) is determined, as is the vehicle speed. From this information, in step, a determination can be made if impact with the personis imminent, and if so, then the hood moving assemblycan be actuated in step. To avoid false indications of impact, which would cause unnecessary actuation of the hood moving assembly, the system may be set up to ensure impact will not be avoided, and when that higher threshold is not met to also actuate the hood moving assemblyupon detection of an impact, such as set forth in the method of.

With the systems and method set forth herein, a hood moving assemblyfor a vehicle hoodcan be controlled to avoid or limit the occurrences of false actuations which can cost time and money to correct or repair. The systems and methods may use one or more cameras,that provide an indication of an object's temperature and size, and perhaps shape and pattern of movement. From the outputs of the camera(s),, the system can determine objects that are not a person and avoid actuating the hood moving assemblyin the event of an impact with such objects determined to not be a person. In at least some implementations, the hood moving assemblycould be actuated only when it is determined that a person is present in front of the vehicle immediately before or during an impact event. In at least some implementations, the hood moving assembly could be actuated only when it is positively determined that an object is not a person, and if a positive determination is not made, then impact with any object could result in actuation of the hood moving assembly. Thus, when the vehicle hits a tree, bush, box or other inanimate object, or a small animal, the system can avoid actuation of the hood moving assembly.